Naxos island
| Native name: Νάξος | |
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Port of Naxos (city)
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 Naxos
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| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 37°3′N 25°29′E / 37.050°N 25.483°ECoordinates: 37°3′N 25°29′E / 37.050°N 25.483°E |
| Archipelago | Cyclades |
| Area | 429.785 km2 (165.941 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,003 m (3,291 ft) |
| Highest point | Mt. Zeus |
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Greece
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| Region | South Aegean |
| Regional unit | Naxos |
| Capital city | Naxos (city) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 18,904 (2011) |
| Pop. density | 44 /km2 (114 /sq mi) |
Naxos (/ˈnæksɒs/; Greek: Νάξος, pronounced [ˈnaksos]) is a Greek island—at 429 km2 (166 sq mi) the largest of the Cyclades island group in the Aegean. It was the centre of archaic Cycladic culture. The island is famous as a source of emery, a rock rich in corundum, which until modern time was one of the best abrasives available.
The largest town and capital of the island is Chora or Naxos City, with 6,533 inhabitants (2001 census). The main villages are Filoti, Apiranthos, Vivlos, Agios Arsenios, Koronos and Glinado.
Climate is Mediterranean, with relatively mild winters and very warm summers. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Csa". (Mediterranean Climate).
According to Greek mythology, the young Zeus was raised in a cave on Mt. Zas ("Zas" meaning "Zeus"). Homer mentions "Dia"; literally the sacred island "of the Goddess". Karl Kerenyi explains (speaking as if he were an ancient Greek):
One legend has it that in the Heroic Age before the Trojan War, Theseus abandoned the princess Ariadne of Crete on this island after she helped him kill the Minotaur and escape from the Labyrinth. Dionysus (god of wine, festivities, and the primal energy of life) who was the protector of the island, met Ariadne and fell in love with her. But eventually Ariadne, unable to bear her separation from Theseus, either killed herself (according to the Athenians), or ascended to heaven (as the older versions had it). The Naxos portion of the Ariadne myth is also told in the Richard Strauss opera Ariadne auf Naxos.
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Wikipedia